Grant Brown rues missed chances
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21602473Lincoln City caretaker manager Grant Brown tells BBC Lincolnshire he was delighted with the performance in the last-gasp 1-0 home defeat against Mansfield Town, but says they paid the price for missed chances.

When we apply ourselves we're a good side.
Paul Farman made some excellent saves.
We looked really dangerous going forward.
Disappointed we never really worked the keeper.
The sending off of Dan Gray looks very harsh on the DVD.

Manager Paul Cox was delighted with the way our side played in the second half of last night's dramatic victory over Lincoln City at Sincil Bank.

After a first period in which “we were a million miles off the pace” according to our boss, Matt Green netted in stoppage-time, to move us into the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off zone.

It rounded off a perfect week for our boys, who also defeated Hyde last week and play-off rivals Luton Town in equally dramatic fashion on Saturday.

“I don't think we played particularly well and credit has to be given to Lincoln, because I thought they battled all the way through the 90 minutes,” said Cox.

“I thought it had 0-0 written all over it and I wouldn't say the three points were undeserved, but we were quite lucky in the first half as Lincoln were excellent and put us on the back foot.

“We were a million miles off the standard we've set ourselves of late, but credit to the boys. There were a few rows in the dressing room at half-time, a few harsh words.”

He added: “They were upset with their own performance and in the second half it was one-way traffic. We had some good chances and you can never write-off Matt Green, who tapped one in at the end.”

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Stags facing 15 cup finals now, says manager Paul Cox
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Mansfield Town boss Paul Cox called on his players to steel themselves for 15 cup finals that could decide their promotion fate after last night's 1-0 derby win at Lincoln City took them up into fourth place.

That was Stags' eighth win in nine games, their seventh win in eight away games too and they are now five points adrift of leaders Wrexham with a gamne in hand and two games to play against the Welshmen too.

Said Cox: “We want to be top so we are still chasing. We are still within a decent points margin of the teams at the top and we need to keep winning.

“We have got 15 games to go which will be 15 cup finals.”

Stags fans made up 1,107 of the 2,734 crowd at Sincil Bank where Matt Green's stoppage time winner earned a third away win in eight gruelling days, despite a tired display at times.

Cox said: “I must mention our supporters, who were magnificent again. When there was a lull in the game they really got behind us and helped us force the issue.

“It was a bit humbling to take that many away on a freezing cold night to support the lads. It was a bit special to see that and it really drives us on.

“It is better when you play well and win. But credit to Lincoln. They battled throughout the 90 minutes and I thought the game had 0-0 written all over it, even though we tried to force the issue.

“I thought Lincoln were the better side in the first half. We were a million miles from the standards we have set of late.

“We didn't really start and they put us on the back foot in the first half.

“There were a few rows at half-time between players in the dressing room and some harsh words. They didn't need me to tell them. But the second half was a lot better. It was one-way traffic and we missed one or two chances.

“Then we went and scored probably the hardest chance. Never write off Matt Green. He taps one in at the end and we win the game.

“When you win a game in injury time there is always that adrenalin rush. But it was too close for comfort.. You can't afford to turn up for 45 minutes and expect to win a lot of football matches.”

He added: “But we have had three tough away games and come back with nine points. So, overall, I am over the moon with them. I keep raising the bar. But its players who win football matches, not managers. Football managers only lose games.

“There were a few tired legs out there tonight which I am going to have to have a look at for Saturday.

“It's been a tough three games for us and I must now make sure we are fresh and mentally prepared for Saturday.”

Bottom club Telford United provide the potential banana skin at the One Call Stadium on Saturday

The 26-year-old has been a key figure in Mansfield's rise into the play-offs in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

But he pulled up in the warm-up with a niggling knee injury at Luton Town last Saturday and was replaced by Chris Clements shortly before the 3-2 win.

It was hoped he would be back to face Lincoln City on Tuesday, but had to sit out the game – which the Stags won 1-0 thanks to Matt Green's dramatic goal in stoppage time.

It lifted the Stags to fourth, but ahead of facing Telford, Woking and Stockport inside a week, Cox revealed Howell is still a doubt.

"I feel for the kid," said Cox. "We hoped he would be back but it is troubling him and he is going to go and get it looked at.

"It looks like he could be out for a bit which is not great given the form he was in. Anthony has been so influential.

"Hopefully it won't be too long but we have to get on with it."

Mansfield made it eight wins from their last nine league matches when they won on Tuesday at Sincil Bank.

They trail leaders Wrexham by five points with a game in hand and still have to play them twice.

And despite Clements replacing Howell being the only change in the last six games, Cox said the whole squad will come into play.

That was shown in the last two games as Lindon Meikle came on to score the winner at Luton and set up the winner at Lincoln, while Ben Hutchinson and Matt Rhead also made an influence after coming off the bench.

The midweek showing was poor by recent standards and Cox said: "The first half we were lucky, we did not play well. But we kept a clean sheet and got the goal and won the game, although Lincoln will feel unlucky.

"Maybe freshening it up is something I will look at.

"The group of boys are enjoying themselves; there is a good spirit in the dressing room and that can get you a long way.

"It is about keeping them ticking over, mentally and physically, and I think the mental aspect is more important so that they understand the door is still open to them.

"We let ourselves down at Newport (the only defeat in the last nine games). But in terms of consistency, the level has been quite good and I probably stuck my neck out after Newport and put myself out for some criticism if we did not bounce back by not making changes. But I know what makes these boys tick and they are the ones that keep winning football matches. It is down to them."